Mitch's Fish Market Sushi Bar
If you like sushi like I do, Hawaii has a number of excellent sushi bars. There are the well-known establishments that everyone knows about. Then there are the holes in the wall that few people know about. Mitch's Sushi near Honolulu International Airport (last place you would expect to find a really good sushi bar) is one such place.
I went with a few friends to Mitch's the other night to try their Omakase Chef's Special. This is one of those deals where the sushi chef decides what he will make for you. Unlike some other sushi bars, you do not feel pressured by a "Sushi Nazi" (like the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld). They're really cool. If you prefer, you can order whatever you want. Our meal came in 3 phases. First came the sashimi. As you can see from the picture below we had lobster, abalone, scallops, salmon, yellowtail, and fatty tuna. The presentation was quite impressive as you would expect from a Japanese restaurant. Incidentally, both chefs are from Japan.
The second phase was the sushi. I was so excited that I forgot to take a picture. But it included salmon, yellowtail, fatty tuna, regular tuna, special egg, and another one that I forgot, plus some rolls. The final phase was miso soup made from the lobster head. Who would have thought that a lobster head would add so much flavor? I'd like to meet the guy who first saw a lobster and thought, "Dude, I am so going to eat that!"
The key to the quality of the food at Mitch's is the freshness of the fish. Mitch's is actually a fish importer and they supply many of the sushi bars around Honolulu with their fish. Here's an article from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin for more info about Mitch's.
Another good thing about Mitch's is that you can bring your own alcohol. The savings can be quite significant depending on how much you drink. This night we had Orion Beer (Okinawan) and Kamotsuru Gold Sake (from Hiroshima).
So next time you are in Honolulu and if you are a fan of sushi, I highly recommend Mitch's. It is hard to beat the quality and value quotient if you bring your own beer or sake. Mitch, the owner, is friendly. I enjoy talking to the chefs in my broken Japanese, which adds to the experience. Don't worry, they all speak English. In fact, another thing I noticed is that Japanese tourists come all the way from Waikiki to check it out. That's gotta be a good sign. Anyways, give Mitch's a try next time you're in town.
Mitch's Fish Market
524 Ohohia St.
Honolulu, HI 96819
phone: (808)837-7774
